I think he helped them think outside the box

Was kinda annoyed at him at first, but he grew on me.

I love Xander . I think he gets an unfair wrap as "the toxic one" when i ccan name several characters that have have done worse but are seen as lovable and/or cool . Hes super loyal and will lay down his life for those he loves.

I like Xander too. He is the most relatable character of the group. No matter what the situation he is always willing to put his life on the line for his friends. Oh and he is hilarious!

he's great.

I love xander too ❤️ I've done extensive research on the recent xander hate and have come to the conclusion that it stems from shipping culture and lack of philosophical writing in todays television (content over story) . The show very clearly says in season 1 that nobody will ever have a healthy relationship (I robot you Jane the last scene). And Joss is on the record saying that he is a nialist and an absurdist using philosophy to shape the stories that he is telling. He also uses the show to examine toxic behavior and how we grow and regress because of it. There is also a running theme that the whole narrative is built around where xander is buffys metaphorical heart. This means that when Buffy is dealing with matters of the heart xander will be the one to play out the metaphore that is happening. Examples: s2 becoming, xander tells buffy to kick his ass because buffy can't go into a fight against her first love and probably soul mate if she thinks he is saveable. She needs to use all her strength to fight him. The whole season was her trying to find that strength and harden her heart so she could do what needed to be done. Buffys heart (xander) knows she can't be torn between wanting to save angel and needing to stop the apocalypse. Season 3 when Buffy is confronted by everyone after xander finds her with angel he is portraying her guilt back to her. In season 6 buffy doesn't love herself and starts a toxic relationship with spike at the same time that that blows up xander leaves Anya at the alter... what buffy feels xander acts out. Basically people now a days are to focused on who they want to be with who, they neglect to see the themes the show is trying to talk about. Also people don't find Nicolas brenden as hot as James Marsters and David Boreanaz therefore focus on his toxic masculinity and overlook the other representations shown in the themes because they want to smexy time with spike and angel but not with xander 🤷🏻‍♀️. Xander is never rewarded in the narative for his toxic behavior and the show is using all the characters to highlight toxic behaviors and the consequences of our choices. "If nothing we do matters then all that matters is what we do"... and I would add to that "and how we grow" Xander grows a lot but doesn't get a lot of credit because he never becomes supernatural... hes just like us and nobody wants to see their faults reflected back to them. I love Xander 😁

Xander was the heart of the show.

How does it "break your immersion" to use the technology available at the time?

I can't Xander and that's never going to change, he the most selfish, unapologetic and hypocritical character in the show

I like him , his very human

I liked him from the start then he got questionable then just obnoxious, but he still goes back to likable at times. He's just a weird character to me. Then again I'm only halfway done with season 5.

Good overview of the episode. Yes it’s a second half because the original intent was for a 2 hour movie. The network, the WB, only showed 2 hours of new content 4 nights a week. Some points…. Xander is just Xander. He is the lower middle class suburban American boy. He does not have a super power, not a great intellect, or possess a unique talent. He is a boy that is decent, has honor, and tries but like any of us can be selfish, petty, and unaware. That is a reason many don’t like him because he is themselves. And that is one of the reasons BTVS is great. The show takes a central character and makes him flawed and wonderful, witty and clueless and every contradiction that makes us human. For me that is what makes Xander a great Scooby. He can sometimes excel and then the next week disappoint…. But isn’t that every teenage boy? You questioned the padding. Yea it’s there but often for budget reasons. They did not have money for special effects in every episode so… that is why Buffy kills the vamp off screen. To save money some of the kills are off screen or repeated . Some of the demons are costumes borrowed from other shows and staying on a character saved on time and set up. What they did with so little money or network backing is remarkable. Finally, there was uncertainty about the viability of the show The producer and creator, Joss Whedon was from 3 generations of network television writers. He knew to get a shot me needed to be under budget, on time, and give the executives what they wanted. So if this was a ratings disaster, it could be complete with a one and done. The shows has been finished by the first airing and would break even with one showing and one summer repeat. The show could move forward and I’d was failing it could be role in 3 to 5 more episodes. These are some of the constraints and challenges put on the production and as such causes undo criticism. I think with the very small budget, the lack of support, and the shooting schedule they were given…. Season 1 does a good job and does allow a solid foundation for Buffy and the Scoobys.